Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 14, 1941.

R. w. HULL 2,259,039 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May e, 1938 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 I "7 if R. w. HULL 2,259,039

REFRIGERATING 'APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 14, 1941 Maire 3' .rriac 3 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus broadly and is particularly. concerned with an improved evaporator-tray combination whereby certain advantageous results are obtained, among which may be mentioned:

The provision of a dry cold storage space at approximately evaporator temperatures for freezingand storing perishable or spoilable food products, such as fresh meats or opened canned foods and the like and wherein a free circulation of cold dry air is constantly maintained;

A dry tray in the natureof an extra or auxiliary tray for the freezing and/or storing of ice cubes and particularly when an excessiveamount of the latter is desired, or for the freezing and storing of frozen food products generally;

' Atray adapted to be positioned beneath an evaporator unit providing a storage space which is always maintained in a cold dry condition'irrespectiv'e of normal or abnormal or unintentional defrosting of said unit so that any foods therein are not spoiled or adversely affected due to excessive moisture or contact with water;

A tray possessing the advantages above specifled which is capable of easy application and The invention is particularly concerned with an improved type of tray generally'indicated at 8 and shown more or less in detail in Figures.?. and 3. This tray in the form illustrated has closed or solid side walls with the upper edges of the latter formed with supporting slides or guides'defined by outwardly projecting bosses or 'beads'9 adapted to engage over the adjacent frame members of the shelves 6a and b. The upper edges of the side walls are;provided with out-turned r-j: flanges l0 adapted to lie-closely adjacent and withdrawal, is of simple compact construction and is capable'ofuse in cooperative relation with an evaporator unit without encroaching on other units or articles in the proximity of the evaporator unit. 7 a a In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a view in frigerator cabinet with the door open and illustrating an evaporator-tray combination embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the evaporator-tray assembly and adjacent coacting parts;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved tray removed from the evaporator;

Figure 4 shows an alternate position of the improved tray;

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation of an evaporator-tray unit showing a modification in construction.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a refrigerator cabinet is generally indicated at C and has therein a food compartment 5 in which a plurality of shelves 6, 6a and 6b are mounted, the latter being shown as of the sliding type although they may be of any construction desired. An evaporator unit is generally indicated at l and is provided with a housing or shell including side walls la and a door lb, the latter providing access to the tray compartment wherein the conventional evaporator trays are located.

front elevation of a re- I preferably slightly overlap the lower side walls of the evaporator. Ifdesired the said flanges It may actually contact with and eifect a seal be-' tween the evaporator and the tray. The front 5. and rear Walls of the tray 8 are alsoshown slightly spaced from' and extending slightly beyond the'front and rear-walls of the evaporator, as indicated at H, although in this instance the fit may also be relatively snug to prevent the passage of air outwardly at this point. A handle 1 2 is provided in the ront wall of the tray 8.

Referring to Figure 4 it will be noted that the tray *8 has anopenbottom which in the present instance is defined by a reticulated memberlS which is preferably removably supported on side flanges l4 formed around the bottom area of the tray. While an open bottom, or 7 one through which air may circulate with more or less free dom, is an important feature of the present invention, yetit will be obvious that this circulating action may be obtained by any suitable open work forming a support for articles disposed in the tray. It should be borne in mind, however, that when the tray is loaded the bottom may be substantially covered, so that any remaining exposed areas should be well open to avoid undue hinderance to air circulation.

In the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tray 8 is mounted directly beneath the bottom of the evaporator so that cold air circulates from the evaporator downwardly through the tray and then out into the refrigerator compartment. Should there be any dripping of water resulting from an accumulation of frost, or in the event there is a defrosting action, either purposely or accidentally, the water will pass through the tray and into the usual drip tray indicated at l5. 'Due to the close proximity of the tray 8 to the evaporator, the temperatures maintained in the tray approximate evaporator temperature, so that foods stored in the tray will soon reach a freezing temperature. This also provides a means for storing frozen food products, ice cubes and the like to maintain them in a frozen condition.

In the event it is desired to freeze ice cubes, desserts or the like, which are of a fluid nature when in an unfrozen state, a solid bottom may be substituted for the open bottom l3 in sealed relation with the flanges 8, or a suitable liner, such as the conventional grid, may be disposed in the tray on the bottom l3,

Figure 4 shows an alternate position of the trays B and 15, the latter in this instance being disposed on the tray 8 spacing the latter from the evaporator. This position is the defrosting position and may also be used in the event it is desired to store foods in the tray 8 wherein the temperatures are not necessarily required to be at freezing or below. In this respect, it will be noted that the flanges III are outwardly curved so as to provide a sliding support for the drip tray I5. While the drip tray I5 is shown as being primarily supported from the trays 6a and 6b it will be seen that such supports are not necessary in the event the drip tray is supported directly on the tray 8. In other words, the trays 8 and I5 may be constructed for cooperative action irrespective of the shelves 6a and 61).

Figure 5 shows a modification in construction of the tray 8. In this instance the tray, indicated at 8a, is supported directly from the evaporator generally indicated at T. To provide for this arrangement, the side walls of the tray 8a are formed with inturned guides or slides [6 at their upper edges adapted to engage outstanding beads or lugs l1 formed on the bottom of the evaporator shell. With this type of tray, the shelves 6a and 6b are not necessary to serve as a support for the tray.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a tray is provided which provides for the advantages heretofore enumerated and which at the same time is unusually simple in construction and may be economically manufactured. Various materials may be used in making the tray. For example it may be made of plastic material, metal, glass, or the like. Also, instead of the supporting guides 9 and I6 being formed continuous along the length of the tray they may be made lug-shaped or given any other suitable form in accordance with facility of manufacture and the character of materials used in making the tray. It will also be understood that other changes in construction and design may be adopted without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment with an evaporator therein and one or more shelves on which articles of food may be disposed, a tray providing a storage space in addition to the shelf space for articles of food best preserved in a dry cold atmosphere, means supporting the tray beneath and in close to the evaporator, said tray having substantially closed side walls and a bottom wall which is at least in part of open construction to permit the cold air from the evaporator to circulate downwardly through the tray and maintain the interior of the tray at approximately evaporator temperatures and to also permit free drainage of moisture from the tray, the top open area of said tray approximating the bottom area of the evaporator.

2. In a refrigerator having a food storage compartment with an evaporator therein and one or more shelves on which articles of food may be disposed, a tray providing a storage space in addition to the shelf space for articles of food best preserved in a dry cold atmosphere, means supporting the tray beneath and in intimate relation with the evaporator, said tray having substantially closed side walls and a bottom wall which is at least in part of open construction to permit the cold air from the evaporator to circulate downwardly through the tray and maintain the interior of the tray at approximately evaporator temperatures and to also prevent entrapment of moisture from the evaporator in the tray, and means removably mounting the bottom wall of the tray in the latter as for the purpose described.

3. In a domestic refrigerator, the combination of an evaporator, a receptacle having substantially imperforate side and end walls and having a bottom of open work construction permitting the circulation of cold air therethrough, beads or lugs outstanding from the sides of the evaporator at the bottom, the side walls of the receptacle having inturned guides or slides at the top edges engaging said beads or lugs thereby to support the receptacle slidably on the evaporator closely adjacent to the bottom thereof.

ROBERT WINTER HULL. 

